By Roger Adkins, radkins@hdmediallc.com
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Leaders of the West Virginia House and Senate promised “impactful” tax cuts for residents and bold change in the Department of Health and Human Resources during panel discussions Friday at the West Virginia Press Association’s Legislative Lookahead at the Culture Center.
Press Association Director Don Smith and his staff gathered 12 panelists, ranging from three leaders of the House and Senate to administrators in the state Department of Education, to speak to members of the news media and answer questions on topics of particular interest heading into the regular session of the 86th West Virginia Legislature, set to begin Jan. 11.
Many news outlets use the event to frame their legislative preview coverage.
The day’s schedule consisted of four sessions — West Virginia Leadership, Key Economic Indicators for 2023, Workforce and Education.
Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, and House Minority Leader Doug Skaff, D-Kanawha, led the first panel, discussing the state budget, proposed tax cuts, education and issues in the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.
Skaff is the president of HD Media, parent company of the Gazette-Mail.
With Gov. Jim Justice promising to unveil an unprecedented plan to cut taxes during his State of the State address on Wednesday, questions centered on what such a tax plan would look like, given the different ideas on the table. …
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